To the New Year
fourth year annette aguilar
photo by atithi patel
I - tick - tock - tick - tock -
pressed so tightly my eyelids are
what will be the first desire?
perhaps it is to become a bit lighter
i prop the purple grape in-between my lips
the new year has begun!
II - tick - tock - tick - tock -
holding the cup of grapes i think
‘tis only the second wish
but i make it so i can flourish
to be fair, i do not know what to make of it
maybe i will be better prepared this year!
III - tick - tock - tick - tock -
i dare to peek around; to open my eyes
surrounded at my side my family stands
my mother two seats away commands
her mere presence & everyone else: warmth
thankful to welcome another year with them!
IV - tick - tock - tick - tock -
to accept the fact that this time is here
when there were moments of nothingness
i have to accept - yes - we are here nonetheless
like this grape... the smoothness
may this year be filled with everything smooth!
V - tick - tock - tick - tock -
or even if it is not, oh well!
if i survived 2020
surely life will go on aplenty!
so this grape i eat!
a year lived is still a year lived!
VI - tick - tock - tick - tock -
at the halfway mark of the minute
time is running out to make my resolutions
yet as i eat these grapes, i choose revolutions
because if there is anything i have learned
i do not have to have a new year new me!
VII - tick - tock - tick - tock -
with no resolution’s list made the day before
does this mean i have no more left to give?
no, that is not true, i have to live
i have to see more clouds and more leaves
there are after all 364 days left in the year!
VIII - tick - tock - tick - tock -
and that is the tricky part of this all
to start, create, or to be placed at a beginning
the most important thing is to be forgiving
for it can allow us some room to breath
this one’s for a year of pardon!
IX - tick - tock - tick - tock -
well, i should make some resolutions
let’s start with the basics: manifest acceptance
to all the things so i can harbor independence
and hopefully along the way, i gain more peace
so this year is filled with it!
X - tick - tock - tick - tock -
wait, i need to be more specific
i will read some more, travel some more,
dance some more, sing some more, do more!
this is more than one resolution per grape
but this year calls for evermore!
XI - tick - tock - tick - tock -
ah, time is running out!
all i really want is this year to go well!
so i am saying, 2020, farewell!
you have been all kinds of things
this year i, too, will be all kinds of things!
XII to the new year!